Balance of Interests in peaceful enjoyment claim (Plenary Court) The claimants challenged orders expropriating their properties for redevelopment, and the banning of construction pending redevelopment. The orders remained in place for many years. Held: Article 1 comprises three distinct rules: the first rule, set out in the first sentence of the first paragraph, is general … Continue reading Sporrong and Lonnroth v Sweden: ECHR 23 Sep 1982
Standing to Claim under A1P1 ECHR The appellants had written employers’ liability insurance policies. They appealed against rejection of their challenge to the 2009 Act which provided that asymptomatic pleural plaques, pleural thickening and asbestosis should constitute actionable harm for the purposes of an action of damages for personal injury. Held: The insurers’ appeals failed. … Continue reading AXA General Insurance Ltd and Others v Lord Advocate and Others: SC 12 Oct 2011
In each case the defendant sought to resist European Extradition Warrants saying that an order would be a disporportionate interference in their human right to family life. The Court asked whether its approach as set out in Norris, had to be amended in the light of the case of ZH. Held: HH and PH’s appeals … Continue reading HH v Deputy Prosecutor of The Italian Republic, Genoa: SC 20 Jun 2012
Widowers claimed that, in denying them benefits which would have been payable to widows, the Secretary of State had acted incompatibly with their rights under article 14 read with article 1 of Protocol 1 and article 8 of the ECHR. Held: The Secretary’s appeal succeeded. Section 6 of the 1998 Act permitted the discrimination as … Continue reading Hooper and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: HL 5 May 2005
The local authority had applied for a care order under the court’s inherent wardship jurisdiction in connection with a family where three children suffered a potentially life threatening disease, Rasmussens’s encephalitis. The parents were said to be not co-operating with the medical team. The authority now sought permission to withdraw its application. Held: The application … Continue reading LA v SB and Others: CA 12 Jul 2010
The columnist Nigel Dempster had written that the mother in forthcoming proceedings relating to a child was a bad mother. Held: The article was a contempt of court. Such an allegation required proof to the criminal standard. At common law the publisher had no liability in contempt without knowledge. Contempt applied as regards wards of … Continue reading X v Dempster: FD 9 Nov 1998
The claimants alleged negligence causing them personal injury and other losses arising from pollution from mining operations of the defendants in Zambia. The company denied jurisdiction. In the Court of Appeal the defendants’ appeals were dismissed. Held: The appeals failed save that the UK was not the proper jurisdiction to bring the case. The claim … Continue reading Vedanta Resources Plc and Another v Lungowe and Others: SC 10 Apr 2019
The local authority applied for a care order in relation to the child, on the ground that there was an urgent and continuing need for medical treatment which included blood transfusions. The court considered the legal effect of a parent’s belief (as Jehovah’s Witesses) that medical treatment by blood transfusion is forbidden by the Bible … Continue reading Re O (A minor) (Medical Treatment): FD 12 Apr 1993
Application for judicial review of a decision by the London Borough of Haringey that the Claimants were not children in need for the purposes of Part III of the Children Act 1989 Neil Cameron QC [2016] EWHC 2692 (Admin) Bailii England and Wales Children, Immigration Updated: 24 January 2022; Ref: scu.570551
Abuse of Process and Re-litigation The court set down the principles to be applied in abuse of process cases, where a matter was raised again which should have been dealt with in earlier proceedings. Sir James Wigram VC said: ‘In trying this question I believe I state the rule of the Court correctly when I … Continue reading Henderson v Henderson: 20 Jul 1843
Care and secure accommodation proceedings His Honour Judge Dancey [2020] EWHC 1098 (Fam) Bailii Children Act 1989 England and Wales Children Updated: 17 January 2022; Ref: scu.655242
The deceased had been shot by soldiers of the British Army whilst in a car in Northern Ireland. The car was alleged to have ‘run’ a checkpoint. The claimants said the investigation, now 20 years ago, had been inadequate. The claim was brought under human rights law, but predated by many years the incorporation of … Continue reading In re McKerr (Northern Ireland): HL 11 Mar 2004
Wrong assumptions made by police officers in the killing of terrorists amounted to a human rights breach, despite the existence of danger to the public of an imminent attack. Article 2(1) is ‘one of the most fundamental provisions in the Convention’. It would have been incumbent on the state to conduct a ‘thorough, impartial and … Continue reading McCann and Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 6 Oct 1995
The claimants challenged the 2004 Order which prevented their return to their homes on the Chagos Islands. The islanders had been taken off the island to leave it for use as a US airbase. In 2004, the island was no longer needed, and payment had been made (ineffectively) to assist the dispossessed islanders, but an … Continue reading Bancoult, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No 2): HL 22 Oct 2008
Power to call in is administrative in nature The powers of the Secretary of State to call in a planning application for his decision, and certain other planning powers, were essentially an administrative power, and not a judicial one, and therefore it was not a breach of the applicants’ rights to a fair hearing before … Continue reading Regina (Holding and Barnes plc) v Secretary of State for Environment Transport and the Regions; Regina (Alconbury Developments Ltd and Others) v Same and Others: HL 9 May 2001
(Northern Ireland) The deceased solicitor was murdered in his home in 1989, allegedly by loyalists. They had never been identified, though collusion between security forces and a loyalist paramilitary was established. The ECHR and a judge led inquiry had said that a proper investigation was required. A promised inquiry under the 2005 Act was objected … Continue reading Finucane, Re Application for Judicial Review: SC 27 Feb 2019
The appellant was detained under section 37 of the 1983 Act as a mental patient with a restriction under section 41. He sought his release. Held: The standard of proof in such applications remained the balance of probabilities, but that standard was flexible, and varied according to the seriousness of the allegation. The only misdirection … Continue reading AN, Regina (on the Application of) v Mental Health Review Tribunal (Northern Region) and others: CA 21 Dec 2005
The applicants had had their requests for asylum refused. They complained that if they were removed from the UK, their article 3 rights would be infringed. If they were returned to Pakistan or Vietnam they would be persecuted for their religious faiths. Held: A distinction was to be made between domestic cases involving actions within … Continue reading Regina v Special Adjudicator ex parte Ullah; Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 17 Jun 2004
Wives had charged the family homes to secure their husband’s business borrowings, and now resisted possession orders, claiming undue influence. Held: Undue influence is an equitable protection created to undo the effect of excess influence of one person over the will of another, though it should not always be presumed to arise from the existence … Continue reading Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge (No 2); Barclays Bank plc v Harris; Midland Bank plc v Wallace, etc: HL 11 Oct 2001
M and F disputed the return of their child D to Romania. F had obtained there an order for custody, and now appealed from refusal of the court here to recognise that order and enforce it. The judge had found that the proceedings in Romania had failed to allow adequate service of proceedings and opportunity … Continue reading D (A Child) (International Recognition): CA 27 Jan 2016
The local authority had obtained the issue of an Emergency Protection Order under the 1989 Act to remove a child at birth. Held: Where the possibility of harm arose from the mother introducing something into the child’s system (such as a laxative) that did not justify separating mother and child. [2002] 2 FLR 631, (2002) … Continue reading P, C and S v United Kingdom: ECHR 2002
Movement retsriction was not Liberty Deprivation The claimants had been present during a demonstration policed by the respondent. They appealed against dismissal of their claims for false imprisonment having been prevented from leaving Oxford Circus for over seven hours. The claimants appealed against rejection of their claims on human rights law. Held: The appeal failed. … Continue reading Austin and Another v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: HL 28 Jan 2009
Hudson HHJ [2014] EWFC B153 Bailii Children Act 1989 England and Wales Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540387
The Local Authority sought a care order and approval of a final care plan for A to be adopted by his foster carers, therefore also a placement order. Levy HHJ [2014] EWFC B143 Bailii Adoption and Children Act 2002, Children Act 1989 England and Wales Children, Adoption Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540374
Care proceedings in respect of K. Brown HHJ [2014] EWFC B167 Bailii Children Act 1989 England and Wales Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540382
HHJ Hillier [2014] EWFC B142 Bailii Children Act 1989 38(2) Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540364
Application for care orders, after father of one of the children being found to have abused her. Edwards HHJ [2014] EWFC B161 Bailii Children Act 1989 Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540365
Application for care order and placement order. HHJ Swindells QC [2014] EWFC B160 Bailii Children Act 1989 Children, Adoption Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540367
Preliminary issue arising in these proceedings in which a mother, ‘O’, seeks an order against her former partner, ‘P’, for financial relief under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989 in respect of their daughter, ‘S’ Mr Justice Baker, (In Private) [2011] EWHC 2425 (Fam), [2012] 1 FLR 329 Bailii England and Wales Children Updated: … Continue reading O v P: FD 5 Aug 2011
The Convention did not provide for mutual enforcement of access rights, and when determining matters of access relating to access to children to whom the Convention applied English courts are entitled to apply the Children Act 1989, and to consider the child’s welfare as paramount. F’s child was brought by M to live in England … Continue reading In re G (A Minor) (Enforcement of Access Abroad): CA 1993
Public Identification of Pedophiles by Police AB and CB had been released from prison after serving sentences for sexual assaults on children. They were thought still to be dangerous. They moved about the country to escape identification, and came to be staying on a campsite. The police sought to co-operate in the resettlement of the … Continue reading Regina v Chief Constable of North Wales Police and Others Ex Parte Thorpe and Another; Regina v Chief Constable for North Wales Police Area and others ex parte AB and CB: CA 18 Mar 1998
Capacity for Litigation The claimant appealed against dismissal of his claims. He had earlier settled a claim for damages, but now sought to re-open it, and to claim in negligence against his former solicitors, saying that he had not had sufficient mental capacity at the time to accept the offer. Held: There is no definition … Continue reading Masterman-Lister v Brutton and Co, Jewell and Home Counties Dairies (No 1): CA 19 Dec 2002
Minor Irregularity in Break Notice Not Fatal Leases contained clauses allowing the tenant to break the lease by serving not less than six months notice to expire on the third anniversary of the commencement date of the term of the lease. The tenant gave notice to determine the leases on 12th January 1995, although the … Continue reading Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Assurance: HL 21 May 1997
Interim Injunctions in Patents Cases The plaintiffs brought proceedings for infringement of their patent. The proceedings were defended. The plaintiffs obtained an interim injunction to prevent the defendants infringing their patent, but they now appealed its discharge by the Court of Appeal. Held: The questions which applied when looking for an interim injunction in patent … Continue reading American Cyanamid Co v Ethicon Ltd: HL 5 Feb 1975
It was again argued that ‘likely’ meant more probable than not. Held: The argument was not open to the appellants in the light of Newham London Borough Council. Thorpe J [1993] 1 FLR 824 Children Act 1989 31(2)(a) England and Wales Citing: Applied – Newham London Borough Council v Attorney-General CA 1993 The court rejected … Continue reading In re A (A Minor) (Care Proceedings): FD 2 Jan 1993
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough authority (‘the local authority’) seeks to put into the public domain aspects of care proceedings under Part IV of the Children Act 1989, which, in accordance with normal practice, were heard in private. The Rt Hon the President, Sir Nicholas Wall [2011] EWHC 2412 (Fam), [2011] Fam Law 1205, [2011] 3 FCR … Continue reading Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council v Haigh and Others: FD 22 Aug 2011
F appealed against the removal of his parental responsibility for his son. M and F were not married, but F had been named on the birth certificate. He had later been convicted of sexual assaults against two daughters of M by an earlier relationship. Held: ‘where a judge applies the concept of the paramountcy of … Continue reading Re D (A Child): CA 26 Mar 2014
The claimant challenged the Order as regards the prescription of the morning-after pill, asserting that the pill would cause miscarriages, and that therefore the use would be an offence under the 1861 Act. Held: ‘SPUC’s case is that any interference with a fertilised egg, if it leads to the loss of the egg, involves the … Continue reading Regina (Smeaton) v Secretary of State for Health and Others: Admn 18 Apr 2002
The courts having decided that the two applicant children must be housed by the respndent, the children now, by their best friend, sought an order that the authority must house their parents also. Swift J [2013] EWHC 2475 (Admin) Bailii Children Act 1989 17 Housing, Children Updated: 18 November 2021; Ref: scu.514340
‘Since 1 December 2013 and by section 4(1) CA 1989 as inserted by section 111 Adoption and Children Act 2002, an unmarried father acquires parental responsibility by the inclusion of his name on the child’s birth certificate. That legislative change accompanied society’s recognition of and expectations for the exercise of parental responsibility by parents who … Continue reading Re M (A Child) sub nom PM v MB and M (a child): CA 31 Jul 2013
Whitmar claimed damages for breach of contract; an account of profits; damages for breach of fiduciary duty and/or for infringement of its Database Rights under the Copyright and Rights in Database Regulations 1997; and for a permanent injunction restraining the Defendants from using and disclosing its confidential information obtained during their employment by Whitmar. Held: … Continue reading Whitmar Publications Ltd v Gamage and Others: ChD 4 Jul 2013
The claimant sought judicial review of the refusal by the defendant to treat him as a ‘former relevant child’ within the meaning of section 23C of the Children Act 1989. Were he to be so treated he would be entitled to a range of services under the Children Act. Thirlwall J [2013] EWHC 4243 (Admin) … Continue reading R, Regina (on The Application of) v London Borough of Croydon: Admn 10 Feb 2012
The issue raised by this appeal is the relationship between a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (‘SOPO’) under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the powers of a court exercising family jurisdiction under the Children Act 1989 where, as in this case, the order relates to a child of the defendant. [2005] EWCA Crim 3660, [2006] … Continue reading D v Regina: CACD 16 Dec 2005
Same Sex Paartner to Inherit as Family Member The claimant had lived with the original tenant in a stable and long standing homosexual relationship at the deceased’s flat. After the tenant’s death he sought a statutory tenancy as a spouse of the deceased. The Act had been extended to include as a spouse someone living … Continue reading Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd: HL 28 Oct 1999
The applicant applied for housing being a homeless single mother. The council found that she was intentionally homeless, and was required to leave the temporary accomodation provided. The judge considered that the phrase ‘reasonable opportunity of securing accommodation’ involved consideration by the local authority both of the applicant’s individual situation and that of the authority … Continue reading Conville v London Borough of Richmond-Upon-Thames: CA 8 Jun 2006
The local authority sought a care order, alleging serious physical abuse of the child. The mother said that any injuries had been inflicted by the father. The father said that the cause was the mother. Held: The injuries were not likely to have been accidental. The court concluded that the likely perpetrator was the father. … Continue reading Lancashire County Council v R (A Minor) and others: FD 4 Dec 2008
The court was asked whether K, a 13-year-old girl, should attend the hearing of an application by her local authority to keep her in secure accommodation for three months. She wanted to be at the hearing, but the local authority opposed her attendance on welfare grounds. Held: The child should be allowed to attend: ‘the … Continue reading In re K (A Child): FD 16 May 2011
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
The claimants wished to claim that they were victims of a miscarriage of justice in the way the Council had dealt with care proceedings. They sought that the proceedings should be reported without the children being identified. Held: A judge must adopt the same ‘parallel analysis’ leading to the same ‘ultimate balancing test’, as described … Continue reading Norfolk County Council v Webster and others: FD 1 Nov 2006
Ward has no extra privilege from Police Interview The court considered the need to apply to court in respect of the care of a ward of the court when the Security services needed to investigate possible terrorist involvement of her and of her contacts. Application was made for a declaration as to the need for … Continue reading Re A Ward of Court: FD 4 May 2017
The appellant had been unsuccessful in litigation against his former bank. The Financial Services Authority had subsequently investigated his complaint against the bank. Using section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998, he requested disclosure of his personal data held by the bank. The Financial Services Authority disclosed some copies of documents relating to the … Continue reading Durant v Financial Services Authority: CA 8 Dec 2003
The claimant suffered locked-in syndrome and sought relief in a form which would allow others to assist him in committing suicide. The court considered whether the case should be allowed to proceed rather than to be struck out as hopeless. Held: The case was arguable and should be allowed to proceed: ‘However, the point that … Continue reading Nicklinson v Ministry of Justice and Others: QBD 12 Mar 2012
The defendant had been tried for the murder of two men by shooting them at a party. He was identified as the murderer by three witnesses who had been permitted to give evidence anonymously, from behind screens, because they had refused, out of fear, to testify should their identities be disclosed. He now said that … Continue reading Regina v Davis: HL 18 Jun 2008
The applicants had been made subject of anti-social behaviour orders. They challenged the basis upon which the orders had been made. Held: The orders had no identifiable consequences which would make the process a criminal one. Civil standards of evidence therefore applied, and hearsay evidence was admissible. Nevertheless, the test as to whether it was … Continue reading Clingham (formerly C (a minor)) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Regina v Crown Court at Manchester Ex parte McCann and Others: HL 17 Oct 2002
There had been several hearings and the father had been assisted by a McKenzie friend permitted to address the court. The father now objected to the mother’s McKenzie friend being given similar leave. Held: Whilst Dr Pelling might make a preliminary argument on the point in chambers, if decided in his favour, the full point … Continue reading In Re N (A Child): FD 20 Aug 2008
The child had been born in Britain to British citizen parents from Pakistan and India. There had been care proceedings, but later and with the court’s consent the father took him to Pakistan undertaking to return him, but then failed to do so. Contact was re-established, but the child was now habitually resident in Pakistan. … Continue reading In Re I (A Child): SC 1 Dec 2009
The LA, the guardian and adoptive parents appealed against an order that they should provide to the parents an annual photograph of the child. They contended that an image should only be made available to be viewed at the authority’s offices annually. Held: The order was discharged. The judge had erred in law in reaching … Continue reading Oxfordshire County Council v X and Others: CA 27 May 2010
The claimant sought equal pay with other, male, warehouse operatives who were doing work of equal value but for more money. The Court of Appeal had held that since other men were also employed on the same terms both as to pay and work, her claim failed. Held: The claim was not disbarred in this … Continue reading Pickstone v Freemans Plc: HL 30 Jun 1988
The principal claimants sold the rights to take photographs of their wedding to a co-claimant magazine (OK). Persons acting on behalf of the defendants took unauthorised photographs which the defendants published. The claimants had retained joint copyright over the photographs and reserved a right to control publication of any particular photographs. In return they made … Continue reading Douglas and others v Hello! Ltd and others (No 3): CA 18 May 2005
Taxpayer companies challenged the way that the revenue restricted claims for group Corporation Tax relief for subsidiary companies in Europe. The issue was awaiting a decision of the European Court. The Revenue said that the claims now being made by other companies should proceed through the Commissioners who could implement European law directly. The taxpayers … Continue reading Autologic Holdings Plc and others v Commissioners of Inland Revenue: HL 28 Jul 2005
Judicial review was sought of a decision by the respondent to prosecute a child for her alleged sexual abuse of her younger sisters. Agencies other than the police and CPS considered that a prosecution would harm both the applicant and her sisters. It was said that the applicant had herself been groomed by an adult … Continue reading E and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v The Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 10 Jun 2011
The Court considered a decision granting to a father the care of his child who appeared to have become happily settled with the maternal grandmother. Held: The grandmother’s appeal succeeded. The judge and court of appeal had misunderstood the effect of In re G, saying that it gave preference to a child living with his … Continue reading In re B (A Child): SC 19 Nov 2009
Whether child should be seen to b ‘looked after’ Appeal from an order dismissing the appellant’s claim for judicial review, expressed as a challenge to the failure of Hertfordshire to provide her with support for the care of her grandson who, it was suggested, was a ‘looked after child’ for the purposes of section 20 … Continue reading Cunningham, Regina (on The Application of) v Hertfordshire County Council and Another: CA 11 Nov 2016
The deceased soldier died of heat exhaustion whilst on active service in Iraq. It was said that he was owed a duty under human rights laws, and that any coroner’s inquest should be a fuller one to satisfy the state’s duty under Article 2. Held: The SSD’s appeal succeeded. ‘jurisdiction’ within the meaning of Article … Continue reading Smith, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Defence and Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening): SC 30 Jun 2010
(Grand Chamber) The applicants complained that on being arrested on suspicion of offences, samples of their DNA had been taken, but then despite being released without conviction, the samples had retained on the Police database. Held: (Unanimous) The retention was unlawful. Though other member states retained some DNA samples in certain conditions, the UK was … Continue reading Marper v United Kingdom; S v United Kingdom: ECHR 4 Dec 2008
An application was made in care proceedings for an order restricting publication of information about the family after the deaths of two siblings of the child subject to the application. The Sun and a local newspaper had already published stories which it was said were in breach of the order, and attempts were made to … Continue reading In re A (A Minor): FD 8 Jul 2011
Not Homeless Even if Accomodation Inadequate The applicants, a married couple, lived with a young child and later also a baby in one room of a guest house. They were given breakfast but had no cooking or washing facilities. They succeeded on a judicial review of the housing authority’s decision that they had accommodation. They … Continue reading Regina v Hillingdon London Borough Council Ex parte Puhlhofer: HL 2 Jan 1986
Wife in Occupation had Overriding Interest The wife had made a substantial financial contribution to the purchase price of the house which was registered only in her husband’s name, and charged to the bank. The bank sought possession. The wife resisted saying that she had an overriding interest. Held: Her equitable interest was not only … Continue reading Williams and Glyn’s Bank Ltd v Boland: HL 19 Jun 1980
The applicants sought asylum, and, saying that they were children under eighteen, sought also the assistance of the local authority. Social workers judged them to be over eighteen and assistance was declined. Held: The claimants’ appeals succeeded. The actual age of a party is an objective question of fact, and as such was for the … Continue reading A, Regina (on the Application of) v London Borough of Croydon: SC 26 Nov 2009
The court was asked as to the vicarious or other liability of a school where a pupil suffered injury at a swimming lesson with a non-employee during school time, and in particular whether it had a non-delegable duty to ensure the welfare of children during school time. The pool supervision wasthrough employees of a company … Continue reading Woodland v The Swimming Teachers’ Association and Others: QBD 17 Oct 2011
The respondent had been subject to a civil search, which revealed the existence of obscene images of children on his computer. He appealed against refusal of an order that the evidence should not be passed to the police as evidence. He said that the order infringed his right against self-incrimination. He had permitted the search … Continue reading C Plc v P and Attorney General Intervening: CA 22 May 2007
Result Decides Dscrimination not Motive The Council had allowed free entry to its swimming pools to those of pensionable age (ie women of 60 and men of 65). A 61 year old man successfully complained of sexual discrimination. Held: The 1975 Act directly discriminated between men and women by treating women more favourably on the … Continue reading James v Eastleigh Borough Council: HL 14 Jun 1990
Anticipating a refusal by H to disclose assets in ancillary relief proceedings, W’s brothers wrongfully accessed H’s computers to gather information. The court was asked whether the rule in Hildebrand remained correct. W appealed against an order restraining her use of the information obtained, saying that ‘the law which protects Mr Imerman’s confidential information and … Continue reading Tchenguiz and Others v Imerman: CA 29 Jul 2010
The taxpayer insurance company had transferred sums from accounts designated as Capital Reserves. The Revenue said that these were properly part of the profit and loss accounts for the respective tax years, and chargeable receipts. Held: The Revenue’s cross appeal succeeded. As a life assurance company, the amounts to be taken into account in computing … Continue reading Scottish Widows Plc v Revenue and Customs: SC 6 Jul 2011
Care proceedings statement disclosed to MI5 The court had decided to permit the Local Authority to disclose the mother’s statement made to them in care proceedings to the Police imposing certain additional restrictions. The Police now applied for permission to disclose the statement further to the Security Service. There was concern that the father of … Continue reading The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v A local Authority, X, Y and Z (Disclosure To The Security Service): FD 6 Oct 2016
The defendant had been a member of the security services. On becoming employed, and upon leaving, he had agreed to keep secret those matters disclosed to him. He had broken those agreements and was being prosecuted. He sought a decision that the defence that the disclosures had been made by him in the public or … Continue reading Regina v Shayler: HL 21 Mar 2002
The claimants were subject to deportation, but had settled here and begun a family. An earlier concession would have allowed him to stay, but it was withdrawn. The court was now asked whether statements by the Secretary of State of her policy as regards the granting of concessions outside the immigration rules and of their … Continue reading Munir and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 18 Jul 2012
mak_ukECHR10 When RK, a nine year old girl was taken to hospital, with bruises, the paediatrician wrongly suspecting sexual abuse, took blood samples and intimate photographs in the absence of the parents and without their consent. Held: The doctor had acted in a way to infringe the child and the parent’s human rights in acting … Continue reading MAK and RK v The United Kingdom: ECHR 23 Mar 2010
The claimants said they had been subjected to harassment and violence from non-state agents in their home country of Lithuania, and sought asylum. Held: It was for the person claiming the protection of the Convention provisions for ill-treatment to show that the country would not provide them with adequate protection against non-state agents. It was … Continue reading Bagdanavicius and Another, Regina (on the Application of) v: HL 26 May 2005
The section in the 1985 Act created a power to prevent rent increases for tenancies of dwelling-houses for purposes including the alleviation of perceived hardship. Accordingly the Secretary of State could issue regulations whose effect was to limit the maximum amount of rent in the proper exercise of that discretionary power. The Act as a … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions and another, ex parte Spath Holme Limited: HL 7 Dec 2000
On her dismissal from the claimant company, Ms Banerjee took confidential papers revealing misconduct to the local newspaper, which published some. The claimant sought an injunction to prevent any further publication. The defendants argued that the restraint which had been imposed infringed the human right of free speech. When the 1998 Act was brought in, … Continue reading Cream Holdings Limited and others v Banerjee and others: HL 14 Oct 2004
Notice of dismissal begins when received by worker The court was asked: ‘If an employee is dismissed on written notice posted to his home address, when does the notice period begin to run? Is it when the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post? Or when it was in fact delivered … Continue reading Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Haywood: SC 25 Apr 2018
A appealed against the dismissal of her claim for damages under the 1998 Act after the defendants had taken action anticipating possible abuse of her baby child. The baby had been returned after the suspicions were allayed. She complained that the respondents had acted under section 46, avoiding the need to test their suspicions at … Continue reading A v East Sussex County Council and Chief Constable of Sussex Police: CA 2 Jul 2010
No General ty of Care Owed by Police The mother of a victim of the Yorkshire Ripper claimed in negligence against the police alleging that they had failed to satisfy their duty to exercise all reasonable care and skill to apprehend the perpetrator of the murders and to protect members of the public who might … Continue reading Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire: HL 28 Apr 1987
Munby J reviewed the grant of Emergency Protection Orders, and summarised the applicable law: ‘The matters I have just been considering are so important that it may be convenient if I here summarise the most important points: (i) An EPO, summarily removing a child from his parents, is a ‘draconian’ and ‘extremely harsh’ measure, requiring … Continue reading X Council v B (Emergency Protection Orders): FD 16 Aug 2004
Evidence allowed – Care Application after Abuse Children had made allegations of serious sexual abuse against their step-father. He was acquitted at trial, but the local authority went ahead with care proceedings. The parents appealed against a finding that a likely risk to the children had still been been found. Held: A care order could … Continue reading In re H and R (Minors) (Child Sexual Abuse: Standard of Proof): HL 14 Dec 1995
The House considered when adoption law would allow an adoption without the consent of the birth parent where there had been some continuing contact between that parent and the child. Held: (Baroness Hale dissenting) The appeal against the adoption was dismissed. The judge’s opinion had been expressed strongly but he had expressed the law accurately, … Continue reading Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust and Another v H and Another: HL 12 Jul 2006
The claimants were PRs of men who had died or were severely injured on active duty in Iraq being variously fired at by mistake by other coalition forces, or dying in vehicles attacked by roadside bombs. Appeals were heard against a finding that the . .
The claimants asserted negligence in the defendant in failing to provide an adequate response to an emergency call, leading, they said to the death of their daughter at the hands of her violent partner. They claimed also under the 1998 Act. The . .
The patient was due to deliver a child. A delivery by cesarean section was necessary, but the mother had a great fear of needles, and despite consenting to the operation, refused the necessary consent to anesthesia in any workable form.
Held: . .
The employer appealed an award of ten thousand pounds including aggravated damages, and other elements after a finding of sex discrimination. They also awarded six hundred pounds in interest. It was asserted that Scots law did not allow for . .
The defendant had made misrepresentations, inducing the claimant to enter into share transactions which he would not otherwise have entered into, and which lost money.
Held: A deceitful wrongdoer is properly liable for all actual damage . .
The appellant solicitor acted in a land transaction. The land was mortgaged to the respondent bank. She wrote to the bank stating her client’s intention to repay the whole loan. The letter was negligently mistaken and the bankers allowed the . .
The court was asked as to local authority funding in relation to a child, K, who was born in November 2011.
Black LJ explained: ‘I raised the question during the appeal hearing as to whether a parent who is inadequate is in fact ‘willing and . .
Children had been removed from their parents under s20 of the 1989 Act, but then not returned after the expiry of the initial 72 hour period.
Held: The court dismissed the claims for negligence, misfeasance in public office and religious . .
The financial claims on divorce had been settled by a compromise recorded in a court order. The order included periodical payments to the former wife. After she suffered financial losses, she sought an increase, and the former husband sought an . .
H was a wealthy businessman, but, as a member of Lloyds, he had been required to charge the family home to secure potential liabilities. Also, the company of which he was managing director had always paid out only smaller sums by way of dividends, . .
Application for judicial review, arising out of the Claimant’s application for accommodation and support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. . .
References: [2003] EWHC 259 (QB), Gazette 01-May-2003, [2003] 1 FLR 1091 Links: Bailii Coram: The President An IVF treatment centre used sperm from one couple to fertilise eggs from another. This was discovered, and the unwilling donors sought a paternity declaration. Held: Section 28 did not confer paternity. The mistake vitiated whatever consents had been … Continue reading AHE Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust v A, A, YA and, ZA (By Their Litigation Friend, the Official Solicitor), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority B, B: QBD 26 Feb 2003
References: (1843) 3 Hare 100, [1843] EngR 917, (1843) 67 ER 313 Links: Commonlii Coram: Sir James Wigram VC The court set down the principles to be applied in abuse of process cases, where a matter was raised again which should have been dealt with in earlier proceedings. Sir James Wigram VC said: ‘In trying … Continue reading Henderson v Henderson; 20 Jul 1843
